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Friday, October 31, 2008

How would you like a 100% cashmere shawl? These two patterns use the new Ecco Cashmere brought out by Plymouth Yarns in the US and Nova Yarns in Canada. The shawls take 3 skeins each. There are also two patterns for scarves that take one skein each. Only two colours are available. We didn't receive the off white but are hoping it arrives soon.

Just arrived-Addi Turbo circulars in 2.25mm and 2.75mm. For some reason Addi didn't make these sizes but now they see the light and realize they are crucial especially for the sock knitters.

Speaking of socks, Noro Kureyon sock yarn will be arriving at the beginning of the week in eight new colours.

How about Survivor last night? I have no problem with Dan being sent home but Ace was a shock. I would have sent Crystal home. She hasn't performed well in any challenges and she is lazy around camp.

I have no pumpkin pictures this year. Beth has been very busy with work and just hasn't had the time. She does have candy though so I doubt the kids will care about the lack of pumpkins. :)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

We just received the new magazine from Jane Ellison called Queensland Collection Book 9. This is an amazing book of patterns for men-vest, sweaters, cardigans, scarves and hats. Here are a couple of pictures from the book.

I forgot something in yesterday's post. We received a shipment of Darn Pretty Needles. The Original Darn Pretty™ Needles, crafted in Vermont from Vermont wood products, offer exceptional strength and durability. Available in a wide range of colors and color combinations.

Darn Pretty™ Double Point Needles by Grafton Fibers are not just the prettiest needles available, they are also the strongest, smoothest wood needle on the market. Hand crafted from Vermont wood products that are dyed and laminated, creating a more stable product, the needles are a joy to use.

I haven't knit with these yet but I think I will now that the circulars have arrived. They are beautiful.

Monday, October 27, 2008

I have been busy all day but it feels like I haven't accomplished anything. I did however finish writing three newsletters, got seven packages to the post office, did two loads of laundry and went grocery shopping. In my running around I stopped by the store with lunch for Jane and taught somehow how to do short rows. While there a parcel arrived with Rowan magazines and yarns.

Kim has always been one of my favourite designers. She is now producing her own magazines using Rowan yarns. Thrown Together features fabulous designs for fall.

Nectar came out in the summer and we have copies back in stock.Beatrix and Kim are from Thrown Together.

I have been putting this off but now I must go and finish doing my GST return. It's something I hate doing but it is for the government and I don't want to be late with a payment to them. Bad things can happen to you if you are late.

The weather has turned cold which means it is incredibly busy in the store-no complaining from me. :) I didn't get any knitting done in the store on Friday or Saturday but did sit and knit Saturday night and Sunday. Here are squares 13, 14 and 15. I have put a link to the left under websites to visit called Log Cabin afghan that will take you to the pattern.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Wow, the weather has turned cold here. The great thing is that I can get my sweaters out and start wearing them.I have been knitting like crazy on my squares. Here are squares 11 and 12.I really want to get the afghan done for many reasons1. The squares look great and I can't wait to see it finished2. It is going to look amazing hanging on the wall in my living room3. I want to start Landon from Jordana PaigeIt is rearranging time in the store again. Dream in Color Classy is now at the front door. We have every colour in stock right now.

This is just the start. BerrocoJasper has a new home (sorry no pictures because it is dark out and the colours aren't showing up well). Now I need to find a new home for Tonalita because it used to live at the front door.

I think that the number of posts this week should keep my mom happy. :) Gotta run because my knitting class should be arriving any minute and I don't have the class room tidied. Can't wait to get home to watch Survivor.

You might not know that Jordana Paige designs garments as well as knitting bags. This is her latest pattern-Landon. It is available today from her website. I will be ordering it and looking to knit it. The yarn will be a decision-Jo Sharp Aran Tweed, Berroco Pure Merino or Tahki Donegal Tweed. What do I use?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

I spent today making up kits (8 done with 4 to go) in fabulous colours for this afghan. I combine hand dyed yarns from Fleece Artist with yarns that we have in the store including ribbons and eyelash. Wannietta designed the afghan for me-I handed her a bag of yarn and told her to get busy.

Ball winders are now in the store. This is the JUMBO ball winder. This can hold up to 500 gram skeins-perfect for large hand painted hanks and delicate yarns. We also have the regular ball winders as well.

Jane was busy yesterday unpacking a box from Dream in Color. We should have every colour of Classy in stock now.

Everyday we have people in the store needing to knit baby garments. It seems like everyone is pregnant right now-must be something in the water. :) Here are some pictures from Sublime's new magazine 612. Sublime is a division of Sirdar meaning great yarns and patterns. The yarn is called Baby Cashmere Silk Merino DK (a blend of 75% extra fine merino wool, 20% silk and 5% cashmere. The colour range is great and we have them in the store.

Monday, October 20, 2008

I did find a picture of the ninth square that isn't as fuzzy as the one in the last post.

On my way to the Ball's Falls Conservation Area last week the traffic was stop and go. I was stopped in front of this house and couldn't resist taking a picture. Mom, I am looking after Beth-look what I found for her. :)

Mom called me from Myrtle Beach last night and asked if the blog was broken. I asked her why she would think that. Her response was 'You haven't posted in so long so I thought it might be broken.' Sorry mom-here are some pictures for you.

Square 9-I didn't realize the picture was blurry until I was posting it here-sorry-I don't have another one on the camera.

Square 10.

My Edie is almost done. I just need to block it and sew in the ends.

This is Jane wearing her new cardigan from Kim Hargreaves book Nectar. The pattern is called Favour and it is knit out of Rowan Denim. The book should be back in the store this week (Jane sold all the copies last week while wearing the jacket) along with the next magazine from Kim called Thrown Together.

Did anyone watch The Amazing Race last night? Beth and I would have kicked butt on that episode. We have been to Gulf Harbour and Mount Eden. Kelly and Christy missing the entrance to Mount Eden is understandable-it is almost impossible to find. The Skytower was one of our homes while in NZ (the casino is there) and Bev stayed at the City Life Hotel so we visited it often as well. It was unfortunate that the show didn't show the drive from Auckland to Kiwi 360 (we visited here as well). It made it look like they were close together but they weren't-it is actually over 200 km and takes over 3 hours to get there. New Zealand doesn't have major highways like we do-it is like driving country roads everywhere you go.

Okay, now that mom should be satisfied for tonight I am going to get back to work.

Monday, October 13, 2008

I posted yesterday that Korey and I had made some neat changes to the website. These have disappeared temporarily. Korey needed to change servers today. The site was running slow with our large database-hopefully this will make it run much quicker. With the change, all of my updates need to be uploaded again. This might be done today-otherwise keep checking back this week. Sorry about this but in the long run it will make the site much better. :)I went the Balls Falls craft show this morning. It took forever to get to the Conservation Area. I guess everyone decided to go because the weather was so nice. By the time I got into the show I was so tired and irritated that I looked around quickly and then came home empty handed.

Here is square number 8. Football, baseball and The Amazing Race gave me lots of time to knit. Speaking of the Amazing Race-Mark and Bill comment that they are not a physical team so they will need to use their brains. I think that includes reading the clue properly. When will people learn? Read the clues before you start running around like a chicken with your head cut off. It only takes a couple of minutes and it could mean the difference between winning and going home.

I've gotta go. I'm playing poker and should be concentrating on my game (as well as knitting square 9)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

I am totally addicted to my Log Cabin Afghan. Here are squares 6 and 7. Since it is Sunday afternoon I am sitting on the couch watching football. Square 8 is on the needles and will be done later today. I might even get square 9 started during The Amazing Race. I am not sure who I am rooting for yet-I think it might be the mother/son team.

I am speaking at the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Guild this Tuesday night. It is always fun to go to their guild meetings-they are a huge guild with enthusiastic knitters.

Korey and I have been working on the website. We have a new section called Featured Patterns-this was called Kits and it wasn't easy to navigate this section but I think we have found something much easier now. Please let me know what you think. Take a look at Laura and the other pattern names that have a star in front of them. This also lets me show some of the designs from the new magazines.

My couch is calling. Have a good Thanksgiving. I might spend my holiday Monday at the Ball's Falls craft show. The weather forecast looks good and the crafts there are always great.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Life can now get back to normal. We arrived home from Gone Stitchin' late yesterday afternoon. Our time away was great. The weather was cool with touches of rain but we all had lots of warm sweaters to wear. The food was great as usual. Barry has taught at retreats all over the US and claims the food at Bayview is better than anywhere else he teaches. Fiona's and Barry's classes were phenomenal. Thursday night Beth hosted Family Feud. I can't say anything else about that because what happens at Bayview stays at Bayview, however, if you ever meet Barry, make sure to ask him about his wives. Friday morning we held our fashion show with over 50 garments that are new for fall. Friday afternoon the ladies had a class and then Friday night I gave a talk about tips and tricks for knitting. Saturday there were two more classes and then Saturday night the students showed off their knitting in the student fashion show. After Sunday mornings class everyone started their trips home.

I worked on my fall class schedule this afternoon as well as a newsletter. Hopefully both will be finalized tomorrow.

This was taken Thursday afternoon after a rain shower. The amazing rainbow didn't come out in any of my pictures. Just imagine it. :)Beth told everyone that Saturday was her birthday. Betty Lou and Sue made her a present. Sue is holding a small gun that shoots confetti into the air. The resort is going to hate us because there is confetti everywhere on the carpet.Sunday morning in class.More Sunday morning class.I did get a bit of knitting done. Two more squares on the Log Cabin blanket.